Why your favorite McDonald’s espresso drinks might be off the menu for a bit
McDonald’s decommissions espresso machines due to potential equipment safety risk
You might want to think again before heading to McDonald’s for your espresso fix.
After McDonald’s supplier Melitta informed its customers of a potential equipment safety risk for one of its machines, the fast-food giant has decommissioned these machines from its restaurants, McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com on November 20.
Impact on menu items
Espresso-based menu items such as hot and iced lattes may not be available in impacted restaurants, but non-espresso based beverages, like hot and iced brewed coffee, will still be available, the company confirmed.
Scope of the impact
McDonald’s said a limited number of beverages were affected, and that it is still working to determine the scope of the impact.
Stores affected
Several stores listed its espresso-based products as unavailable across Brooklyn and Manhattan on November 20, according to the McDonald’s app.
Root cause investigation
A Melitta spokesperson said in a statement to TODAY.com that the company recommended its customers to temporarily stop using its CT8 Espresso Machines.
“We are investigating the two impacted machines. Our intent is to determine the root cause and provide a remediation plan that allows us to move forward,” the spokesperson said.
Recent challenges
The temporary stoppage of using its espresso machines came days after the company announced it would be investing $100 million to get customers to return to its restaurants after an E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions used on its Quarter Pounder burgers sickened more than 100 people last month.
Ice cream machine woes
Some customers may be surprised to see that McDonald’s is having trouble with a machine that isn’t its ice cream machine.
McDonald’s fans have lamented for years over how often the company’s ice cream machine appears to be down or broken, leading to internet users to take matters into their own hands, like the “McBroken” map, which uses data from the McDonald’s app to show where ice cream products are “currently unavailable.”
New developments
But things may be looking up on the ice cream front: Last month, the United States Copyright Office granted a copyright exemption that allows restaurants using a copyrighted machine the “right to repair” it by circumventing digital locks on the device.
Conclusion
McDonald’s espresso drinks may be off the menu for a bit, but the company is working to resolve the issue and get its espresso machines back up and running. In the meantime, customers can still enjoy other beverages on the menu.
FAQs
Q: Why are McDonald’s espresso machines being decommissioned?
A: The machines are being decommissioned due to a potential equipment safety risk.
Q: Which menu items are affected?
A: Espresso-based menu items such as hot and iced lattes may not be available in impacted restaurants, but non-espresso based beverages, like hot and iced brewed coffee, will still be available.
Q: How many stores are affected?
A: Several stores across Brooklyn and Manhattan are affected, but the scope of the impact is still being determined.
Q: When will the espresso machines be back up and running?
A: McDonald’s is still investigating the root cause of the issue and will provide a remediation plan once it has determined the cause.
